The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 46

**Chasing Light, Finding Peace** – by Rohan Verma

**Chapter 46**

Mars’s face darkened, his brow furrowing deeply as he glared at Autumn. “If that meal wasn’t meant for me, then who did you intend it for?” His voice dripped with suspicion, the alcohol amplifying his insecurities.

In an instant, his friends, like a pack of wolves sensing prey, circled around him, their eagerness to back him up only escalating the tension.

“Exactly! Autumn, what’s so shameful about bringing your husband food? Just admit it, you came here for Mars!” one of them jeered, a smirk plastered on his face.

“Don’t worry, we won’t laugh at you!” another chimed in, trying to stoke the flames of Mars’s indignation.

“Seriously, Mars! Here! Catch this! It’s from your wife. You can’t let it go to waste!”

With his senses dulled by the effects of the drink, Mars reached out for the insulated container, but his coordination faltered spectacularly.

The container slipped from his fingers, crashing to the ground with a loud thud, its contents spilling out in a chaotic mess that mirrored the turmoil brewing within him.

Autumn’s heart plummeted at the sight of the ruined meal, despair washing over her like a cold wave. In a moment of frustration, she shoved Mars away, her voice rising above the chaos. “Mars, are you completely out of your mind?! I told you it wasn’t for you! Can’t you grasp that?”

“Why would you just throw away someone’s hard work like that?” he retorted, his anger palpable.

The thought of Owen Bennett, still waiting for his meal, ignited a surge of agitation within her.

Every interaction with Mars seemed to spiral into chaos, and she was done wasting her breath on him. With newfound determination, she turned away, pulling out her phone to text Mrs. Turner, desperately requesting another meal to be sent over immediately.

“What the hell does that mean, Autumn?!” Mars’s voice cut through the noise, filled with confusion and rage.

“Do you really think you can act all high and mighty just because Mars is drunk?” one of his friends shouted, as if defending a wounded animal.

“You’re his wife! What’s yours is his. If this wasn’t for Mars, who was it for? Your secret lover or something?”

Seeing how Autumn was treating Mars only fueled his friends’ anger.

But Mars was a volcano ready to erupt.

“Secret lover?” he spat, glaring at Autumn. “Autumn Lopez, are you seriously cheating on me?”

Drunk people rarely recognize their own inebriation, and in that moment, Mars seized Autumn’s arm, tugging her toward the exit with an unsteady grip that felt more like a vice than a hand.

“You’re coming back with me right now to explain this!”

His friends, sensing an opportunity to rally around their inebriated leader, pushed Autumn toward the door.

The last time they had pulled a stunt like this, they had locked her in the bathroom. Now, with Mars drunk and out of control, she felt a chill of fear creep up her spine; there was no telling what he might do next.

**Chapter 46**

I absolutely cannot go with them!

Panic surged through Autumn as she cast a desperate glance at the front desk, her heart racing.

The receptionist, noticing the escalating situation, rushed over with security guards in tow, positioning themselves like a protective barrier between Mars and Autumn.

“Can’t you see the lady doesn’t want to go with you?”

The receptionist’s heart ached for Autumn, especially as she noticed her pregnancy. It was disheartening to witness a woman being treated so poorly by a group of men, their arrogance palpable in the air.

The security guards stood firm, effectively blocking the doorway and preventing Mars’s friends from advancing any further.

“Get lost! This isn’t your business!”

Mars slurred his words, his drunkenness evident. “This… this is my goddamn wife! What’s it to you, outsider?”

The receptionist held her ground, her voice steady and unwavering. “Even if she’s your wife, you have to respect her wishes. She’s a person, not your property. Can’t you see she doesn’t want to go with you?”

Mars’s expression turned icy, the alcohol clouding his judgment as rage simmered beneath the surface.

His friends, sensing the tension, began to berate the receptionist, their voices rising in a chorus of indignation.

“What’s the problem with a little spat between a husband and wife? Besides, we don’t work for your company. You can’t dictate our actions.”

“Get out of the way! Stop blocking the path!”

Autumn hadn’t anticipated the situation escalating to this level. Her face paled with a mix of anger and frustration.

As the commotion drew the attention of bystanders, she felt a wave of panic wash over her. She had only intended to deliver a meal to Owen Bennett, never imagining that her simple act of kindness would lead to such chaos at the entrance of his company.

Guilt gnawed at her insides, twisting like a knife.

“Mars, stop it!”

She didn’t want to prolong this standoff any further.

It was clear that reasoning with a drunk was futile. She turned to his friends, her voice firm and resolute. “You guys need to take Mars and leave. This is the Bennett Group. If this escalates any further, it won’t end well for anyone involved.”

Her words struck a chord.

They understood the implications; their livelihoods depended on Mars. If he felt threatened by someone, they could not afford to cross that line.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify